Rough-stemmed morning glory
Merremia kentrocaulos

Family: Convolvulaceae

What it is like

A large woody climbing herb. The young stem are slender and the old stems become woody. It keeps growing from year to year but can be an annual. The leaf blade is 5 sided in out line. It is 4-13 cm wide and long. The leaves have 5-7 deep lobes. These are sword shaped and 7 cm long by 2 cm wide. There is one or a few flowers in a group. They are funnel shaped and white or yellow with a purple centre. The fruit is a narrowly oval capsule. The seeds are brown to black with small hairs.

Where it is found

It is a tropical plant. It grows in savannah woodland.

Countries/locations it is found in

Africa, Botswana, Burkina Faso, East Africa, Ethiopia, Guinea, Guinée, Guinea-Bissau, Mozambique, Togo, West Africa, Zimbabwe

How it is used for food

Edible parts

Leaves

How it is grown

Its other names

Local names

Djon-musso-djubo

Synonyms

Convolvulus kentrocaulos Steud.; Ipomoea kentrocaulos C. B. Clarke; Operculina kentrocaulos Hallier f.;